Home run Adam, very thoughtful, thorough & nice job. Congrats Pa. for a great fundraising concept for pollinators. Not upset...no complaints...from Wisconsin!
Yay, PA for making a pollinator plate! 🌸🐝🦋 Thank you, Adam, for such a well reasoned, thoughtful, thoroughly researched presentation on the topic. I learned some things. Appreciate your work!
You do a ridiculously good job of explaining this issue. As we both know, there are many people these days now who thrive on finding fault with just about anything.
Yes, people running around looking for something to be upset about. We maybe don’t have enough true challenges going on these days. In my view, if people don’t have enough challenge then there’s many many real causes they could take up that could help the environment, pollinators and even native species. You know…..get out there and do some real work for the environment instead of behind a keyboard getting people all upset about something 😊
The level of detail and patience you expressed to explain what is obvious to those with sufficient common sense was . . . commendable. I plant for pollinators in my garden, and I am sure some things are not at all native to NEPA. Like oregano. My huge flowering oregano is attracting 40 bees and pollinators of all kinds - all at the same time - all day. It deserves a license plate!
I was insulted because I DO care about native plants and animals and the message a State sends to people. Not long ago a lawn chemical company removed images of Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars from the implied insects that should be killed on the toxin's packaging. Because it broadcasts the wrong concept.
I appreciate your common sense approach to this silly "issue". -- and all your excellent nature videos. And you are absolutely right about the honey bee, too. Keep up the good work, from an 80-plus year old naturalist from New England.
Great video! I allow all my plants to go to flower and seed and I let my yard pretty much run wild only mowing the grass a couple of times a year, and I have found many species of bees flock to my yard. Picture a world where everybody planted fruit trees instead of grass. Now that would be fun. 😅
Thank you! I tried a wild yard, but invasives took over. Then I removed all grass manually, it wasn't native and I don't need to own a lawnmower. I'm in New Hampshire. I have many Sweat Bees because they can overwinter under the moss in my yard, which is thermogenic. I have a Wild Black Cherry that feeds lots of animals, especially Variable Hares and slugs.
Beautifully put, Adam! Love the broad mindedness and bigger picture of this that you painted here. All my relatives from both sides are from PA, solid German stock so to speak... Sounds like a typical discussion/debate in any family gathering of mine - very opinionated and convinced they're right on any side of an issue without considering all of the ways one could look at it. As an herbalist, I say, just make amazing medicine from echinacea purpurea, support your pollinators, and chill out!
Adam gets to the point without hemming and hawing. Adam may rehearse his remarks, but that saves time both in his getting his message across and in our understanding what he wants to say, so your attention does not wander. Good presentation, Adam! Even if you rehearse, it is well worth doing.
I love your description of people who get very upset over a license plate image. It can be a positive thought however that people are concerned about local advocacy and wish it to be accurate.👍🏻
First off, EXCELLENT presentation, and I concur completely; your initial 'wondering' about how people would handle truly important issues was very apt. Secondly, the knee-jerk default setting over the past few decades for an increasingly large number of humans seems to be 'focus on the minutiae, not the intended scope of the message, so that we can derail anything and everything.' As has been said, common sense isn't at all 'common' anymore.
Thank you again, Adam! Great information and I don't know how I feel about this topic. I want to laugh...but I am also grateful that it came up because your response is amazing!
This is a different and very enjoyable video, Adam. You have a way of completely explaining an issue, with lots of relevant and in this case, opinionated in a good way, information. It was amusing and also the videography was quite beautiful.
Lots of good information using great analytical skills. Thank you for reminding us to think outside the box even when it comes to nature. Excellent point about the honeybees. Most of our biases can be softened or even removed with just a bit of education. Thank you.
I live in WI so I shouldn't comment on the license plate but I can agree with another's comment. Thank you for turning this into a learning opportunity. I guess that is saying I agree that if this helps our pollinators, it's a non-issue. Very nice reminder about the honey bees, I'd almost forgotten. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and educating those of us with an interest in learning about the land, it's beauty and bounty.
Of course you should comment. Your Bill of Rights says your opinion matters. Political boundaries are a huge part of why humanity is so disconnected from one another, when reality dictates we're all pretty much the same under our cultural skins.
@@anthimatter I think he intended to be polite & respectful since its another states issue, and not his state's issue. You said nothing I disagree with, but just wanted to mention what it appears his intentions were.
As a former resident of PA, you have my persona permission to comment if you want! I have been gone for awhile, and i still comment on things from my old home state. Besides, this silliness is not hemmed in by boundaries. maybe it happens in Wisconsin next, or Minnesota or even my state (the least shocking thing ever)! LOL We appreciate your insight & comments.
I love that license plate😊💖💖 Thank you for the detailed information😊 I believe that these days, many people are simply unhappy & discontented, and look for reasons to argue & complain, to interfere with other people's happiness. 💔 If you don't like the plate, then don't purchase it, & don't interfere with other people's personal choice to purchase it--it's that simple.
Someone will always find anything to complain about, they use the word invasive and not native to areas. I'm in SE, Pennsylvania and I think the license plate looks fine. If you think about it, somewhere along the line we are not native to Pennsylvania either.
You are right. Even native Americans are from Mongolia and were endemic to Siberia. Native and Invasive are just someone's rude opinion of where they draw their line. Endemic lifeforms are never native scientifically and certainly not invasive as it just a rude opinionated insult. That theory has been debunked !
As long as the non-native plant or insect is not considered invasive, I think it's fine to put them on the PA license plate. During the 1800's several of Pennsylvania's native trees, plants and wildlife were harvested almost to the point of extinction. With better sustainable practices and stewardship, Pennsylvania's Forests are making a come back, but look a bit different today then in the past. That's part of the evolutionary process. Any species that works with the local ecosystem is welcome in my book!
If you've been to NE Pa recently, you'll know that LNG fracking is decimating Pa forests. The expansion is massive, 98% unregulated & cleverly hidden from main roads. Our individual efforts are more important than ever
Being passionate about nature is about productive solutions not worried about mediocre nonsense. Why not be concerned about some of these giant corporations creating toxics which have a detrimental affect on our environment. Just go out and keep your green spaces free of trash? Or just learn and spread positive awareness. I'm just a concerned citizen that s all.I appreciate your channel thank you. 👍
Good for you that you are the one who gets to decide what being passionate about nature is all about, and what constitutes "mediocre nonsense." Be sure to tell that to your professor if you ever take a botany class, LOL.
I learned to stop listening to the people that often complain the loudest about the environment who also use more than 10 different hair products and consume roughly 80% of the disposable goods sold in most western countries.
@@badlaamaurukehu They seem to have undue sway with politicians and the local power brokers, though. I generally agree with you, but they sure can be a menace when they put their minds to it!
I think you are spot on, Adam. I have a lot of family history in Pennsylvania, though I am not a resident myself. That being said, I like the way the license plate looks and I believe it needs to stay the way it is. I am fairly certain, that Purple Cornflower - purpurea grew native in Pennsylvania - possibly as little as 200 years ago. Right after watching this video, I did a search and what I found was an article, posted online, in May 2021, by the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, which is in northwestern Philadelphia. The article is called "Reviving the Prairies of Philadelphia". While they don't actually state this flower as being a native to Pennsylvania, they do mention this flower 'specifically', as well as one other. The article very strongly hints that the Purple Coneflower - purpurea is a Pennsylvania native. Anyway, I thought you might be interested in the article. I found it interesting and you might be able to find more substantial information, to support this beautiful flower's native-ness. I would post the actual link, but don't want to get either of us in hot water with RUclips. We all know how they can be, lol. You can however, find their website at - schyulkillcenter. org. You could probably even call/visit them and get the lowdown on their project and its progress. By the way, you're not really off topic. The license plate was created to help nature and you are just discussing the controversy surrounding it. It's a good video and, in my opinion, those people who are complaining, need to find constructive hobbies to focus on, instead of trying to stomp on efforts to help nature. Best wishes and thanks for the knowledge you share with us. 🌱
I'm sure you understand these types like I do. They dont 'intend' to stomp on efforts. they are simply the foremost experts (in their minds) on the correct way to do everything. They are purists; there is only ONE right way, in their minds, and only they know that right way!
But until recently pollinators were seen as a small and mundane issue. The people who care about supporting the native insects are the people who care about native plants.
Good for you Adam. My wife has a garden full of purple cone flowers. We have many, many pollinators. Just outside of Baltimore and not too far from DC that can’t be bad!
I LOVE and Appreciate your putting this issue into a broader learning perspective, I think its Ridiculous that uninformed people get so upset over such a trivial thing.. folks should understand that the Entire earth IS a Living being and there are SO Many cycles and changes that take place over Time.. I firmly believe that this Species of flower More than Likely Was Native to PA at some point in time and Very Well May just make its way back there on its own at another point in time anyway.. I say Support the pollinators in any way possible 🥰
You are absolutely right. This is what I think. And I think that some people don’t have enough problems in their life to worry about so they make it a big issue about a license plate. How silly!
Just a note: If you want to help pollinators, plant a tulip poplar tree. Each individual blossom produces so much nectar that a honey bee can fill up their belly from one flower rather than visit a few hundred before heading back to the hive. Beekeepers rely on this tree for the majority of their honey harvest.
Honey bees are not the only kind if bees. There are many types of insects that rely on many species of plants, they must not be forgotten. As always, diversity is key
Doesn't that mean that the bee's are visiting less plants and thus pollinating less? Makes sense for a honey farm but I don't understand why that is preferable in the wild.
I don't think the discussion about climate change has ever asserted that any change at all was bad...only that human activity is accelerating the rate of change to dangerous levels. That being said, there's plenty of other things that are natural that can be harmful or even disastrous when encountered out of proportion: water is natural and even essential, but nobody uses this to downplay the impact of flooding or drowning, poop is natural but I bet you still call your plumber when it's backing up in your home...even invasive species are natural...it's their location that makes them a problem. It doesn't even always have to be problematic amounts or locations to make "natural = not a problem" a bad argument. Poison Ivy and mosquitoes are completely natural...doesn't mean that they're harmless or not worth efforts to mitigate their impact!
I live in PA. Didn't know about the Car Plate, so thanks. I love the video. A beautiful flower from the Land we call America, with a beautiful Butterfly and a wonderful Honey Bee! The Power of Pollination!
From PA and hadn’t heard about this yet. I’ve been spending more time recently mulling over the native v nonnative arguments. Thanks for breaking this down so concisely!
Well said, Adam. Much as I love the hoop-skirted flowers of the mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, may I point out to those who are backing the use of PA's state flower that it is toxic, as is the honey made by bees who frequent it. It would thus be totally (you might even say 'wildly') inappropriate for this campaign. I vote to call the image E. laevigata and be done with it.
Honeybees cannot make toxic honey. The foraging worker bees would die before bringing the nectar home and the house bees would die manufacturing it. A lot of what they write is untrue. Many plants they write are toxic to bees are not . They write that buckeye is toxic. My bees love buckeye and its healthy for them.
Well done! Flowers can also migrate on their own. But there will always be people looking to pick a fight or complain. Thanks for taking a grounded take on the topic.
Thanks for the great video Adam! The topic of native range is really interesting. A few weeks ago I was looking for an ID on a tree that I thought was Magnolia macrophylla, big leaf magnolia. I posted on a Facebook group and someone insisted it couldn't be macrophylla because I was about 50 miles from it's closest "native range" . Having now identified that tree in a different spot that was within its range, I can say it definitely was macrophylla.
I really appreciate your perspective. It is my belief that things like this teach us a lot about humans as well as the places in which we live. Personally, if we want to have clear communications that teach science, ecology, and about pollinators: we should teach specific storied interactions that everyday folks can see and from which be inspired. Whatever that is. Should they have picked another flower/pollinator relationship that resonates with folks in PA because it is currently extant and endemic? That would be my choice, perhaps Kalmia latifolia and its pollinators. Anything that tells a story, fires imagination and curiosity, and starts a conversation in terms of science literacy. I think you have done so, regardless of the plate's current content. Cheers.
I understand the dilemma. It is good to discuss various facets of the subject so people will have a deeper understanding. I have a wildflower habitat garden. Echinacea is very useful, and not an invasive. I'd like to see old industrial lands reclaimed for habitat and wild flowers. Natives are the best, but one can learn a history lesson by researching any wild plant. Thank you!
Good presentation of facts. Seems like a lot of people just WANT to be upset or offended. My perspective is: in the scheme of life, does it make a meaningful difference.... for Heaven's sake it's a license plate, it's purpose is about pollinators, not what you grow for their benefit.
I think some people sit at home on the edge of their kitchen chair just hoping & wishing for something to come along that they can be outraged about. !
Great video! As Rosanna Rosannadanna's grandma always says, "It's always something!" 😂🤣 *A shout out to Gilda Radnor's character on the original Saturday Night Live! show.
This is a great video. Thank you for making this. I had no idea that native v. non-native was even an argument. I figured most people did what they wanted on their property. This is a great resource for people like me who have never even heard of BONAP.
Upset (triggered) or setup? No noone can make us feel anything. 💯 A trigger is a message to you, noone else. Learning or unlearning. ❤ Thank you for your energy!
I certainly have my issues with governments and bureaucracies but this positive step by Harrisburg should not be criticized but rather applauded and appreciated. In this case the intent to raise funds and awareness about a serious environmental issue outweighs whether it is technically correct in its presentation. I would ask that we all look at the positive big picture (Aiding Pollinators plight) of this program. When the minor concern(s) were dissected by Adam in such a logical and professional manner, the dispute becomes debatable and inconsequential. Thank you Adam. Hopefully the program will be very successful.
As a rule, I always try to listen and think before labeling another's opinions silly or pointless. The fact is, invasive species pose real challenges in many places and for many ecosystems. The thoughts expressed in this video are informed, well considered and seem to me a fine example of working through this issue with respect and understanding. Well done.
Wonderful video! (1.) I love your take on "things that don't need to be controversies!" (2.) And that reminds me of some good ideas about pollinators for local parks. I volunteer with local parks and always seek to focus on fun, interesting and positive themes and not controversy.
Thank you! I have purple coneflowers. They are one of the most visited flowers in my yard. I have many native species as well. The point is that the purple coneflower attracts a wide array of pollinators. Swallowtails, monarchs, fritillaries, coppers, skippers, hummingbird moths, beetles, metallic bees, etc. That is the point of this program and it works. I also plant butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) instead of butterfly bush as well. Insects love it and being a milkweed, monarch’s thrive on it.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL INFORMATION. HOPING THA PA. WILL PUT AS MUCH ATTENTION ON UPCOMING ELECTIONS. BROAD THOUGHTFUL THINKING IS IMPORTANT TO THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF AMERICA.
Basically nearly every plant that is in a given area was brought there by wildlife or on people's clothing, or person. If it could survive in a given area, it thrived ...and thus, became "native."
I asked the question once (pertaining to blue catfish in the potomac river) how long a species needs to be in place before its considered "native" is it just that the ecosystem has to balance back out?
@@DrCorvid so how far back do you have to go before "naturalized for a long, long time" becomes "native"? I'm not saying you're wrong...but it also doesn't seem like your explanation adequately addresses the whole situation. If a given species was carried to a location by migrating animals after the last ice age and has thrived there ever since, I think most would consider that native, yet by your definition, that's 'naturalized'. Bigger picture...if dispersal by wildlife is a (dis)qualifier...how can we be sure of any plant being truly "native" in any area?
Thank you for your amazing education skills. You take complicated information that must take years of study and help us to understand it. Your knowledge and civil discourse and philosophy is quite moving to me. " Imagine there's no countries. It's easy if you try."
Some people seem to look for something to complain about. The point of the plate is to raise funds for a good cause. Let's support its intended purpose.
Very good job of discussing the issue from a scientific but generalized conversation without all the political/argumentative ways. You made some very good points about plant migrations and potential extirpations. If the money is still going to a good cause I'd suggest people run with it and maybe it can be redesigned once things are rolling full speed ahead. Any idea what the percentage of the sale of this tag will go into the Pollinator program?
There are people who thrive on being unhappy or being offended. I ignore those people. They will go to great lengths to find a way to be offended. They will argue with you even if you agree with them. It seems that their "mission" in life is to cast a dark cloud on anything that is inherently good. My dad had a saying for those type of people: (Dad had a unique sense of humor) He would say, "They would complain if you hung them with a new rope".
Is this the kind of 'awareness' you really want though? Arent you concerned that people who are causal observers (most people) will find that people embroiled in this are emotionally unstable? Not ALL press is good press. If i didnt already have an interest, its these types of stories that would keep me away. I tried to get involved with the environmental movement in the 1990's and met WAY too many people like this (Sierra Club). I still have emotional scars, and avoid rabid environmentalists like plague victims.
Sure the “honey bee” is basically a nonnative farm animal but the “honey bee” is easily identifiable as a bee. And yes I know the talk about honey bees was started by chemical companies to distract from the real danger of hurting native bee populations. And yeah, what Adam said about the purple coneflower 😂
If you research deeper than modern articles you will find the apis mellifera was already endemic to North America prior to Spanish conquest. In scholarly articles you will find reports of beeswax being traded for European goods and beekeepers complaints about the aggressive nature of the " native black bee ( Apis Mellifera, Mellifera). They then imported one with more yellow stripes (Apis Mellifera Lingustica) in 1857. Both are excellent honey makers.
I try to pay absolutely no mind to people squaking. Life is SO good that they find something to complain about no matter what they see. Toxic people are a cancer.
I really shouldn't comment since I too am a non native species, Very well presented and you got through it without laughing out louad and shaking your head. I doubt I could have done that.
I do not live in Pennsylvania, but I once stayed in a Holiday Inn in the state. I reside in Florida and if the state issued a license plate with a python and iguana I would protest against that plate!
At first, I felt albeit right, the commentary was quick to dismiss the sentiment of others. At the conclusion, well done. Unparalleled in idea and presentation. I learned a lot as always
I think one of the most important points of this video is that climate is dynamic, that is constantly changing to another condition of temperature and precipitation, and that plants AND animals respond to changing conditions by expanding or contracting or shifting their ranges. We humans don’t have to move to adapt to changing climate, we simply modify the climate to suit us. It is a common human prejudice things should stay the way they were when we first became aware of the world around us. I grew up with dandelions and many other “exotic” plants and animals, so it was kind of a shock to learn about native vs introduced species. Each has their place. When I bought a new home in Las Vegas, NV, I landscaped the front yard by collecting native seeds and vegetative materials to replicate the former habitat including 2-dozen species of cacti, and many native annual wildflowers, perennial shrubs, succulents and trees. The backyard was an oasis of fruit trees, shade and a small patch of turf. Now living in Montana, my front yard is mostly buffalo grass with a curb belt of native shrubs, and, yes, a few echinacea purpurea. The bees love ‘em.
Thank you, Adam. ❤You are a model of objectivity. It is quite simply a symbol of an idea, as even words are, and there will always be those who will infer more or less than is implied. I must say it is part of the human condition, enough said.🎉😊
I quite agree with you, Adam, for us to get our undies in a bunch over a picture on a license plate is like other people getting upset ovet a picture on a beer can.
Wow, thanks so much for that very interesting talk. Funny that you mentioned the honeybee which I was already thinking about. What do you think of the idea that the honeybee may be actually crowding out the native pollinators? I was considered becoming a beekeeper, but after seeing how successfully the native insects are pollinating my garden, I decided not to.
Echinacea purpurea is typically well-behaving outside its native range and plays nicely with native flora. I have some in my Colorado garden due to their reliable drought tolerance. And especially when it comes to plants native to a certain part of the contiguous US... who's to say the native distribution will not eventually expand to "non-native" areas of its own accord? I love my native plants of course, but these things are also constantly in flux. For me, so long as the plant is not noxiously invasive, I have little issue with it. Once it starts suffocating out native flora, however, would be where I draw the line.
Details matter! put a sticker over it! lol I've been on a rant about Wheel Of Fortune using black for the "Bankrupt" wedge! the color "red" represents bankrupt, not black! tell them to make it right! I did! they e-mailed me back with a "Thanks for noticing"
I think it should have a dandelion on the plate. It's a plant that is great for pollinators and people. You can eat every part of this plant--without harming pollinators.
It's interesting to hear a North American perspective. In New Zealand we care a lot about what's native to NZ and what isn't, but most people don't know or care whether something is native to a particular region within NZ. The effect that political boundaries have on conservation is interesting.
A couple years ago new Zealand government dropped thousands of poison baits across the forest to kill animals because they dont like anything "non native".
Unless you're a Native American, you're not native to the land either. I am a bee keeper, and I planted several acres of milkweed to help support the Monarch butterfly. I'm getting a plate for all my vehicles.
Home run Adam, very thoughtful, thorough & nice job. Congrats Pa. for a great fundraising concept for pollinators. Not upset...no complaints...from Wisconsin!
You Midwesterners are just too laid back! here in the east, we have so many complaints we have to write them down in the rolodex to remember them all!
Yay, PA for making a pollinator plate! 🌸🐝🦋 Thank you, Adam, for such a well reasoned, thoughtful, thoroughly researched presentation on the topic. I learned some things. Appreciate your work!
There are more important things to get upset over than silly license plates.
Perhaps people are sick of being implicitly blamed for environmental issues that are probably caused by five gee or those fake clouds.
You are so right!❤
You do a ridiculously good job of explaining this issue. As we both know, there are many people these days now who thrive on finding fault with just about anything.
Yes, people running around looking for something to be upset about. We maybe don’t have enough true challenges going on these days.
In my view, if people don’t have enough challenge then there’s many many real causes they could take up that could help the environment, pollinators and even native species. You know…..get out there and do some real work for the environment instead of behind a keyboard getting people all upset about something 😊
@patrickcunningham4995
Yes. I refer to them as "the chronically offended."
The level of detail and patience you expressed to explain what is obvious to those with sufficient common sense was . . . commendable. I plant for pollinators in my garden, and I am sure some things are not at all native to NEPA. Like oregano. My huge flowering oregano is attracting 40 bees and pollinators of all kinds - all at the same time - all day. It deserves a license plate!
i laughed out loud at "...i wonder about that person's relationship with meaningful challenges in life".😆🍻
That was a soft, but firm way to make the point very clear! LOL
I was insulted because I DO care about native plants and animals and the message a State sends to people. Not long ago a lawn chemical company removed images of Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars from the implied insects that should be killed on the toxin's packaging. Because it broadcasts the wrong concept.
I appreciate your common sense approach to this silly "issue". -- and all your excellent nature videos. And you are absolutely right about the honey bee, too. Keep up the good work, from an 80-plus year old naturalist from New England.
It isn't clear what species the bee is. It looks like a Sweat Bee. It's hard to say if it is native without knowing what species it is.
Wow.
People have mental boundaries.
I like the plate...brings food to our plate.
Great video! I allow all my plants to go to flower and seed and I let my yard pretty much run wild only mowing the grass a couple of times a year, and I have found many species of bees flock to my yard. Picture a world where everybody planted fruit trees instead of grass. Now that would be fun. 😅
Deer ate all our fruit trees before we could get them growing. lol. Just deer proof your yard before planting!
Thank you! I tried a wild yard, but invasives took over. Then I removed all grass manually, it wasn't native and I don't need to own a lawnmower. I'm in New Hampshire. I have many Sweat Bees because they can overwinter under the moss in my yard, which is thermogenic. I have a Wild Black Cherry that feeds lots of animals, especially Variable Hares and slugs.
Beautifully put, Adam! Love the broad mindedness and bigger picture of this that you painted here. All my relatives from both sides are from PA, solid German stock so to speak... Sounds like a typical discussion/debate in any family gathering of mine - very opinionated and convinced they're right on any side of an issue without considering all of the ways one could look at it. As an herbalist, I say, just make amazing medicine from echinacea purpurea, support your pollinators, and chill out!
If you aint Dutch,you aint much sister!
Adam gets to the point without hemming and hawing. Adam may rehearse his remarks, but that saves time both in his getting his message across and in our understanding what he wants to say, so your attention does not wander. Good presentation, Adam! Even if you rehearse, it is well worth doing.
I love your description of people who get very upset over a license plate image. It can be a positive thought however that people are concerned about local advocacy and wish it to be accurate.👍🏻
First off, EXCELLENT presentation, and I concur completely; your initial 'wondering' about how people would handle truly important issues was very apt. Secondly, the knee-jerk default setting over the past few decades for an increasingly large number of humans seems to be 'focus on the minutiae, not the intended scope of the message, so that we can derail anything and everything.' As has been said, common sense isn't at all 'common' anymore.
Thank you again, Adam! Great information and I don't know how I feel about this topic. I want to laugh...but I am also grateful that it came up because your response is amazing!
This is a different and very enjoyable video, Adam. You have a way of completely explaining an issue, with lots of relevant and in this case, opinionated in a good way, information. It was amusing and also the videography was quite beautiful.
Lots of good information using great analytical skills. Thank you for reminding us to think outside the box even when it comes to nature. Excellent point about the honeybees. Most of our biases can be softened or even removed with just a bit of education. Thank you.
I live in WI so I shouldn't comment on the license plate but I can agree with another's comment. Thank you for turning this into a learning opportunity. I guess that is saying I agree that if this helps our pollinators, it's a non-issue. Very nice reminder about the honey bees, I'd almost forgotten. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and educating those of us with an interest in learning about the land, it's beauty and bounty.
Of course you should comment. Your Bill of Rights says your opinion matters. Political boundaries are a huge part of why humanity is so disconnected from one another, when reality dictates we're all pretty much the same under our cultural skins.
@@anthimatter I think he intended to be polite & respectful since its another states issue, and not his state's issue. You said nothing I disagree with, but just wanted to mention what it appears his intentions were.
As a former resident of PA, you have my persona permission to comment if you want! I have been gone for awhile, and i still comment on things from my old home state. Besides, this silliness is not hemmed in by boundaries. maybe it happens in Wisconsin next, or Minnesota or even my state (the least shocking thing ever)! LOL We appreciate your insight & comments.
I love that license plate😊💖💖 Thank you for the detailed information😊 I believe that these days, many people are simply unhappy & discontented, and look for reasons to argue & complain, to interfere with other people's happiness. 💔 If you don't like the plate, then don't purchase it, & don't interfere with other people's personal choice to purchase it--it's that simple.
Someone will always find anything to complain about, they use the word invasive and not native to areas. I'm in SE, Pennsylvania and I think the license plate looks fine. If you think about it, somewhere along the line we are not native to Pennsylvania either.
You are right. Even native Americans are from Mongolia and were endemic to Siberia. Native and Invasive are just someone's rude opinion of where they draw their line. Endemic lifeforms are never native scientifically and certainly not invasive as it just a rude opinionated insult. That theory has been debunked !
As long as the non-native plant or insect is not considered invasive, I think it's fine to put them on the PA license plate. During the 1800's several of Pennsylvania's native trees, plants and wildlife were harvested almost to the point of extinction. With better sustainable practices and stewardship, Pennsylvania's Forests are making a come back, but look a bit different today then in the past. That's part of the evolutionary process. Any species that works with the local ecosystem is welcome in my book!
If you've been to NE Pa recently, you'll know that LNG fracking is decimating Pa forests. The expansion is massive, 98% unregulated & cleverly hidden from main roads. Our individual efforts are more important than ever
Being passionate about nature is about productive solutions not worried about mediocre nonsense. Why not be concerned about some of these giant corporations creating toxics which have a detrimental affect on our environment. Just go out and keep your green spaces free of trash? Or just learn and spread positive awareness. I'm just a concerned citizen that s all.I appreciate your channel thank you. 👍
Good for you that you are the one who gets to decide what being passionate about nature is all about, and what constitutes "mediocre nonsense."
Be sure to tell that to your professor if you ever take a botany class, LOL.
@@alanhyt79 I'm not deciding anything for anyone I'm just pointing out certain facts. Botany class that's cute LOL!!!!
I learned to stop listening to the people that often complain the loudest about the environment who also use more than 10 different hair products and consume roughly 80% of the disposable goods sold in most western countries.
@@badlaamaurukehu They seem to have undue sway with politicians and the local power brokers, though. I generally agree with you, but they sure can be a menace when they put their minds to it!
Truly amazing the things some people waste their time & energy choosing to be upset about.
I think you are spot on, Adam. I have a lot of family history in Pennsylvania, though I am not a resident myself. That being said, I like the way the license plate looks and I believe it needs to stay the way it is. I am fairly certain, that Purple Cornflower - purpurea grew native in Pennsylvania - possibly as little as 200 years ago. Right after watching this video, I did a search and what I found was an article, posted online, in May 2021, by the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, which is in northwestern Philadelphia. The article is called "Reviving the Prairies of Philadelphia". While they don't actually state this flower as being a native to Pennsylvania, they do mention this flower 'specifically', as well as one other. The article very strongly hints that the Purple Coneflower - purpurea is a Pennsylvania native. Anyway, I thought you might be interested in the article. I found it interesting and you might be able to find more substantial information, to support this beautiful flower's native-ness. I would post the actual link, but don't want to get either of us in hot water with RUclips. We all know how they can be, lol. You can however, find their website at - schyulkillcenter. org. You could probably even call/visit them and get the lowdown on their project and its progress.
By the way, you're not really off topic. The license plate was created to help nature and you are just discussing the controversy surrounding it. It's a good video and, in my opinion, those people who are complaining, need to find constructive hobbies to focus on, instead of trying to stomp on efforts to help nature. Best wishes and thanks for the knowledge you share with us. 🌱
I'm sure you understand these types like I do. They dont 'intend' to stomp on efforts. they are simply the foremost experts (in their minds) on the correct way to do everything. They are purists; there is only ONE right way, in their minds, and only they know that right way!
Thanks, again, Adam for another enlightening video. Healthy controversy always sparks conversation and learning. Keep up the good work!
Thanks, Adam. Much appreciated. Sad how even the most mundane thing can become an unforseen trigger today. Great information, as usual.
But until recently pollinators were seen as a small and mundane issue. The people who care about supporting the native insects are the people who care about native plants.
Good for you Adam. My wife has a garden full of purple cone flowers. We have many, many pollinators. Just outside of Baltimore and not too far from DC that can’t be bad!
The license plate is for a good cause and I believe that should be the deciding factor.
I LOVE and Appreciate your putting this issue into a broader learning perspective, I think its Ridiculous that uninformed people get so upset over such a trivial thing.. folks should understand that the Entire earth IS a Living being and there are SO Many cycles and changes that take place over Time.. I firmly believe that this Species of flower More than Likely Was Native to PA at some point in time and Very Well May just make its way back there on its own at another point in time anyway.. I say Support the pollinators in any way possible 🥰
You are absolutely right. This is what I think. And I think that some people don’t have enough problems in their life to worry about so they make it a big issue about a license plate. How silly!
Just a note: If you want to help pollinators, plant a tulip poplar tree. Each individual blossom produces so much nectar that a honey bee can fill up their belly from one flower rather than visit a few hundred before heading back to the hive. Beekeepers rely on this tree for the majority of their honey harvest.
Tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, is one of my favorite trees…the flowers are gorgeous and contain lots of nectar! 🌳😊
Honey bees are not the only kind if bees. There are many types of insects that rely on many species of plants, they must not be forgotten. As always, diversity is key
I really love tulip poplars! Is this why there is often so much aphid honeydew on the surfaces under tulip poplars in late spring/early summer?
The honey bee it's self is a invasive species that is responsible for the extinction of many native pollinators.
Doesn't that mean that the bee's are visiting less plants and thus pollinating less? Makes sense for a honey farm but I don't understand why that is preferable in the wild.
Wow, young man! You really know your stuff! I have subscribed to your channel and told my friends about this channel! Live long and prosper 🖖, y’all!
Climate change, kinda sounds like a natural thing doesn’t it? Thanks ADAM. WELL DONE!
You don't think climate change is drivin by human activity?
@@TheKopakah I think everything bad is caused by humans, everything.
I don't think the discussion about climate change has ever asserted that any change at all was bad...only that human activity is accelerating the rate of change to dangerous levels.
That being said, there's plenty of other things that are natural that can be harmful or even disastrous when encountered out of proportion: water is natural and even essential, but nobody uses this to downplay the impact of flooding or drowning, poop is natural but I bet you still call your plumber when it's backing up in your home...even invasive species are natural...it's their location that makes them a problem.
It doesn't even always have to be problematic amounts or locations to make "natural = not a problem" a bad argument. Poison Ivy and mosquitoes are completely natural...doesn't mean that they're harmless or not worth efforts to mitigate their impact!
IT depends on who is doing it, look up Weathermodification , We are being played. @@TheKopakah
Your easy on the eyes. Great smile and you're well spoken and clearly intelligent.
I live in PA.
Didn't know about the Car Plate, so thanks.
I love the video.
A beautiful flower from the Land we call America, with a beautiful Butterfly and a wonderful Honey Bee!
The Power of Pollination!
From PA and hadn’t heard about this yet. I’ve been spending more time recently mulling over the native v nonnative arguments. Thanks for breaking this down so concisely!
Can I suggest a book? The New Wild by Fred Pearce. It's about the subject and the non native invasive theory being false.
@inharmonywithearth9982 Thank you for suggesting that book! It opened my eyes!!!
Well said, Adam. Much as I love the hoop-skirted flowers of the mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, may I point out to those who are backing the use of PA's state flower that it is toxic, as is the honey made by bees who frequent it. It would thus be totally (you might even say 'wildly') inappropriate for this campaign. I vote to call the image E. laevigata and be done with it.
Honeybees cannot make toxic honey. The foraging worker bees would die before bringing the nectar home and the house bees would die manufacturing it. A lot of what they write is untrue. Many plants they write are toxic to bees are not . They write that buckeye is toxic. My bees love buckeye and its healthy for them.
Wow. Pennsylvania, get it together. Thank you for addressing this. 💜🐝🦋
Well done! Flowers can also migrate on their own. But there will always be people looking to pick a fight or complain. Thanks for taking a grounded take on the topic.
Thanks for the great video Adam! The topic of native range is really interesting. A few weeks ago I was looking for an ID on a tree that I thought was Magnolia macrophylla, big leaf magnolia. I posted on a Facebook group and someone insisted it couldn't be macrophylla because I was about 50 miles from it's closest "native range" . Having now identified that tree in a different spot that was within its range, I can say it definitely was macrophylla.
I really appreciate your perspective. It is my belief that things like this teach us a lot about humans as well as the places in which we live. Personally, if we want to have clear communications that teach science, ecology, and about pollinators: we should teach specific storied interactions that everyday folks can see and from which be inspired. Whatever that is. Should they have picked another flower/pollinator relationship that resonates with folks in PA because it is currently extant and endemic? That would be my choice, perhaps Kalmia latifolia and its pollinators. Anything that tells a story, fires imagination and curiosity, and starts a conversation in terms of science literacy. I think you have done so, regardless of the plate's current content. Cheers.
I understand the dilemma. It is good to discuss various facets of the subject so people will have a deeper understanding. I have a wildflower habitat garden. Echinacea is very useful, and not an invasive. I'd like to see old industrial lands reclaimed for habitat and wild flowers. Natives are the best, but one can learn a history lesson by researching any wild plant. Thank you!
I'm with you man that seems like a trivial complaint to make. Cheers Adam. Keep up the great work!
Good presentation of facts. Seems like a lot of people just WANT to be upset or offended. My perspective is: in the scheme of life, does it make a meaningful difference.... for Heaven's sake it's a license plate, it's purpose is about pollinators, not what you grow for their benefit.
We have more important things to be angry about these days I’m sure. Thanks.
I think some people sit at home on the edge of their kitchen chair just hoping
& wishing for something to come along that they can be outraged about.
!
Great video! As Rosanna Rosannadanna's grandma always says, "It's always something!" 😂🤣
*A shout out to Gilda Radnor's character on the original Saturday Night Live! show.
Great content as always. It’s crazy that people have an issue with that. We have much bigger fish to fry.
This is a great video. Thank you for making this. I had no idea that native v. non-native was even an argument. I figured most people did what they wanted on their property. This is a great resource for people like me who have never even heard of BONAP.
Upset (triggered) or setup? No noone can make us feel anything. 💯
A trigger is a message to you, noone else. Learning or unlearning.
❤
Thank you for your energy!
I certainly have my issues with governments and bureaucracies but this positive step by Harrisburg should not be criticized but rather applauded and appreciated. In this case the intent to raise funds and awareness about a serious environmental issue outweighs whether it is technically correct in its presentation. I would ask that we all look at the positive big picture (Aiding Pollinators plight) of this program.
When the minor concern(s) were dissected by Adam in such a logical and professional manner, the dispute becomes debatable and inconsequential. Thank you Adam.
Hopefully the program will be very successful.
As a rule, I always try to listen and think before labeling another's opinions silly or pointless. The fact is, invasive species pose real challenges in many places and for many ecosystems. The thoughts expressed in this video are informed, well considered and seem to me a fine example of working through this issue with respect and understanding.
Well done.
Wonderful video! (1.) I love your take on "things that don't need to be controversies!" (2.) And that reminds me of some good ideas about pollinators for local parks. I volunteer with local parks and always seek to focus on fun, interesting and positive themes and not controversy.
Dang, you're amazingly thorough... Thank you.
This is exactly the video I needed on a Monday morning. Greetings from the Massachusetts Hill towns.
Love your videos, you are a wonderful teacher. missed not seeing you lately . much love and peace.
Thank you! I have purple coneflowers. They are one of the most visited flowers in my yard. I have many native species as well. The point is that the purple coneflower attracts a wide array of pollinators. Swallowtails, monarchs, fritillaries, coppers, skippers, hummingbird moths, beetles, metallic bees, etc. That is the point of this program and it works.
I also plant butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) instead of butterfly bush as well. Insects love it and being a milkweed, monarch’s thrive on it.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL INFORMATION. HOPING THA PA. WILL PUT AS MUCH ATTENTION ON UPCOMING ELECTIONS. BROAD THOUGHTFUL THINKING IS IMPORTANT TO THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF AMERICA.
Well said, Adam. If someone is getting upset over the purple coneflower, they'd better neve eat honey again.
Basically nearly every plant that is in a given area was brought there by wildlife or on people's clothing, or person. If it could survive in a given area, it thrived ...and thus, became "native."
Exactly!
The word is "naturalized" and specifically not "native" in this application, and they are not similes.
I asked the question once (pertaining to blue catfish in the potomac river) how long a species needs to be in place before its considered "native" is it just that the ecosystem has to balance back out?
If it were a picture of an apple tree blossom, would people lose their minds given apples are only “native” to Afghanistan, technically speaking?
@@DrCorvid so how far back do you have to go before "naturalized for a long, long time" becomes "native"?
I'm not saying you're wrong...but it also doesn't seem like your explanation adequately addresses the whole situation. If a given species was carried to a location by migrating animals after the last ice age and has thrived there ever since, I think most would consider that native, yet by your definition, that's 'naturalized'.
Bigger picture...if dispersal by wildlife is a (dis)qualifier...how can we be sure of any plant being truly "native" in any area?
Thank you for your amazing education skills. You take complicated information that must take years of study and help us to understand it. Your knowledge and civil discourse and philosophy is quite moving to me. " Imagine there's no countries. It's easy if you try."
Excellent work.
In our anxious fantasy we demand simple polarity, and nature continues.
Some people seem to look for something to complain about. The point of the plate is to raise funds for a good cause. Let's support its intended purpose.
Very good job of discussing the issue from a scientific but generalized conversation without all the political/argumentative ways. You made some very good points about plant migrations and potential extirpations. If the money is still going to a good cause I'd suggest people run with it and maybe it can be redesigned once things are rolling full speed ahead. Any idea what the percentage of the sale of this tag will go into the Pollinator program?
I wish my state would do something like this, whether it's native species or not. I would just be happy to be helping a good cause.
I’m glad they are paying attention. If anything the plate brings awareness to pollinators.
Political boundaries are meaningless. Great video about this storm in a teacup.
There are people who thrive on being unhappy or being offended. I ignore those people. They will go to great lengths to find a way to be offended. They will argue with you even if you agree with them. It seems that their "mission" in life is to cast a dark cloud on anything that is inherently good. My dad had a saying for those type of people: (Dad had a unique sense of humor) He would say, "They would complain if you hung them with a new rope".
Be grateful for the controversy, Adam. It is raising greater awareness of the Pollinator Habitat Program Fund than would otherwise have occurred.
Is this the kind of 'awareness' you really want though? Arent you concerned that people who are causal observers (most people) will find that people embroiled in this are emotionally unstable? Not ALL press is good press. If i didnt already have an interest, its these types of stories that would keep me away. I tried to get involved with the environmental movement in the 1990's and met WAY too many people like this (Sierra Club). I still have emotional scars, and avoid rabid environmentalists like plague victims.
i will definitely use this flower, tearing out front lawn and was talking with 15 yr old daughter of planting plants for habitat purposes
Thoughtful, as always. Thanks Adam!
Excellent! Thank you!
Sure the “honey bee” is basically a nonnative farm animal but the “honey bee” is easily identifiable as a bee. And yes I know the talk about honey bees was started by chemical companies to distract from the real danger of hurting native bee populations. And yeah, what Adam said about the purple coneflower 😂
If you research deeper than modern articles you will find the apis mellifera was already endemic to North America prior to Spanish conquest. In scholarly articles you will find reports of beeswax being traded for European goods and beekeepers complaints about the aggressive nature of the " native black bee ( Apis Mellifera, Mellifera). They then imported one with more yellow stripes (Apis Mellifera Lingustica) in 1857. Both are excellent honey makers.
I try to pay absolutely no mind to people squaking. Life is SO good that they find something to complain about no matter what they see. Toxic people are a cancer.
Brilliant! Well done, sir!
I really shouldn't comment since I too am a non native species, Very well presented and you got through it without laughing out louad and shaking your head. I doubt I could have done that.
Native doesn't exist in nature. All are endemic to Earth. Even Native American First Nation people are actually Mongolians recently from Siberia.
Excellent! I always learn so much from your videos.
I do not live in Pennsylvania, but I once stayed in a Holiday Inn in the state. I reside in Florida and if the state issued a license plate with a python and iguana I would protest against that plate!
Some people get their underware in a knot over REALLY small....!!!!
You made a learning experience out of PA silliness. Good job!
At first, I felt albeit right, the commentary was quick to dismiss the sentiment of others. At the conclusion, well done. Unparalleled in idea and presentation. I learned a lot as always
I think one of the most important points of this video is that climate is dynamic, that is constantly changing to another condition of temperature and precipitation, and that plants AND animals respond to changing conditions by expanding or contracting or shifting their ranges. We humans don’t have to move to adapt to changing climate, we simply modify the climate to suit us.
It is a common human prejudice things should stay the way they were when we first became aware of the world around us. I grew up with dandelions and many other “exotic” plants and animals, so it was kind of a shock to learn about native vs introduced species. Each has their place.
When I bought a new home in Las Vegas, NV, I landscaped the front yard by collecting native seeds and vegetative materials to replicate the former habitat including 2-dozen species of cacti, and many native annual wildflowers, perennial shrubs, succulents and trees. The backyard was an oasis of fruit trees, shade and a small patch of turf. Now living in Montana, my front yard is mostly buffalo grass with a curb belt of native shrubs, and, yes, a few echinacea purpurea. The bees love ‘em.
I’m glad to see the new plate. I wish I had a vehicle I could put it on, but I’ve got custom plates on my two vehicles.
Thanks. Sometimes a person just wants to plant geek out and learn something in the process. It's all grist for the mill.
Thank you, Adam. ❤You are a model of objectivity. It is quite simply a symbol of an idea, as even words are, and there will always be those who will infer more or less than is implied. I must say it is part of the human condition, enough said.🎉😊
Fantastic treatment of this type of controversy
Awesome as always Adam!! Love your stuff!
I quite agree with you, Adam, for us to get our undies in a bunch over a picture on a license plate is like other people getting upset ovet a picture on a beer can.
Thank you for this educational look at the issue.
Excellent perspective, love listening to you
👍🏼👊🏼🦖🍺
Keeping it real, thanks for sharing.
Wow, thanks so much for that very interesting talk. Funny that you mentioned the honeybee which I was already thinking about. What do you think of the idea that the honeybee may be actually crowding out the native pollinators? I was considered becoming a beekeeper, but after seeing how successfully the native insects are pollinating my garden, I decided not to.
Echinacea purpurea is typically well-behaving outside its native range and plays nicely with native flora. I have some in my Colorado garden due to their reliable drought tolerance. And especially when it comes to plants native to a certain part of the contiguous US... who's to say the native distribution will not eventually expand to "non-native" areas of its own accord? I love my native plants of course, but these things are also constantly in flux. For me, so long as the plant is not noxiously invasive, I have little issue with it. Once it starts suffocating out native flora, however, would be where I draw the line.
Details matter! put a sticker over it! lol I've been on a rant about Wheel Of Fortune using black for the "Bankrupt" wedge! the color "red" represents bankrupt, not black! tell them to make it right! I did! they e-mailed me back with a "Thanks for noticing"
People getting uptight and upset about absolutely _nothing_ in _this_ day and age???
*_I refuse to believe it._*
I think it should have a dandelion on the plate. It's a plant that is great for pollinators and people. You can eat every part of this plant--without harming pollinators.
Well said!
It's interesting to hear a North American perspective. In New Zealand we care a lot about what's native to NZ and what isn't, but most people don't know or care whether something is native to a particular region within NZ. The effect that political boundaries have on conservation is interesting.
A couple years ago new Zealand government dropped thousands of poison baits across the forest to kill animals because they dont like anything "non native".
The image is a very clear symbol for ‘pollinator’
I imagine this choice was made without consulting Pa. botanists, plant biologists, etc.
Great commentary. Thanks for sharing.
Unless you're a Native American, you're not native to the land either. I am a bee keeper, and I planted several acres of milkweed to help support the Monarch butterfly. I'm getting a plate for all my vehicles.